Lessons from Hogwarts

Before she was a renowned children’s author, J.K. Rowling was an educator. Her bestselling series, Harry Potter, places education at the forefront, focusing not only on Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s adventures but also on their magical education.

This multi-author collection shines a light on the central role of education within the Harry Potter series, exploring the pedagogical possibilities of using Harry Potter to enhance teaching effectiveness. Authors examine topics related to environments for learning, approaches to teaching and learning, and the role of mentorship. Created for scholars, teachers, and fans alike, this collection provides an entry into pedagogical theories and offers critical perspectives on the quality of Hogwarts education—from exemplary to abusive and every approach in between. Hogwarts provides many lessons for educators, both magical and muggle alike.

Marcie Panutsos Rovan is an assistant professor of English and director of first-year writing, who specializes in children’s literature. She lives in Wilmington, Ohio.

Melissa Wehler, a professor of interdisciplinary studies, has published essays in a variety of edited collections on topics including the gothic, feminism, and popular culture, and Coraline, Downton Abbey, Jessica Jones, and Maleficent. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Edited by Marcie Panutsos Rovan and Melissa Wehler
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 213
Bibliographic Info: bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2020
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7680-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4027-3
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction—Making Magic in the Classroom: An Introduction
to Pedagogy at Hogwarts (Marcie Panutsos Rovan and Melissa Wehler) 1
Rooms of Requirement: Environments for Learning The Role of Academic Librarians in Student Learning: A Comparative Analysis of the Hogwarts Librarian and Muggle Academic Librarians (Samantha Bise) 11
Dumbledore’s Army: A Case for Peer Tutoring (Marcie Panutsos Rovan) 27
Neville Longbottom and the Multifarious Learning Environment: Inclusivity and Reciprocity at Hogwarts (Emma Louise Barlow and Alice Loda) 41
Teaching Wizarding Houses: Hogwarts’ Case for a ­Learner-Centered Pedagogy (Brynn Fitzsimmons and Addison Lucchi) 58
Sorting Out Approaches to Teaching and Learning Composition Pedagogy as Defense Against the Dark Arts (Rachelle A.C. Joplin) 77
Active Learning Pedagogy at Hogwarts (Jessica L. Tinklenberg) 92
Sorted on the First Day: A Hogwarts Guide to Extinguishing Growth Mindset and Instilling Fixed Ideas of the Self (Tara Moore) 106
Fascism in the Classroom in Harry Potter and the Order
of the Phoenix (Laurie Johnson and Carl Niekerk) 121
Fantastic Mentors and Where (Not) to Find Them Defending Against the Dark Arts: Harry’s Path from Pupil to Professor in The Order of the Phoenix (Lee Anna Maynard) 139
Harry Potter’s Pedagogical Paradigm: Multiple Mentors Maketh
the Man (Mary Reding) 155
The Good, the Bad, the Toxic: Using ­Muggle-Borns as a Lens
for the ­First-Generation-Student Experience with Mentorship (Jamie L.H. Goodall and Kerry Spencer) 170
The Fractured Pedagogy of Care: How Hogwarts’ Teachers
(Don’t) Demonstrate ­Self-Care (Jen McConnel) 186
About the Contributors 199
Index 203

• “This book is a significant contribution to the field of teacher education.”—M. Katherine Grimes, Professor of English, Ferrum College

• “Helpful for those wanting to provide as good or better an experience for their own students as Harry and his friends found at Hogwarts.”—Andrea Bixler, Professor of Biology, Clarke University